Researchers can now access some of the world's most sophisticated imaging technology at Nikon Imaging Centres located in three continents
The Centres of Excellence at University of Heidelberg in Germany, Harvard Medical School in North America, and most recently Hokkaido University in Japan, provide researchers with access to the most advanced technology and optimum conditions for their groundbreaking scientific research.
Europe's first Imaging Centre at the University of Heidelberg offers medical and biological science researchers the opportunity to use Tirf and spinning disc microscopy with live imaging and spectral CLSM.
The idea for this particular centre was developed by Professor Thomas Holstein, director of the Institute of Zoology at the University of Heidelberg and Jorg Kukulies, general manager of Nikon in Germany.
"We are delighted that Nikon Imaging Centres are giving academic institutions the opportunity to open up new frontiers in education and research through the use of our state-of-the-art technology.
"Based on the enormous success of the existing Centres of Excellence we have plans to expand our offering to more sites around globe in the near future," commented Kukulies.
An experienced and dedicated 'imaging leader' manages each of the Nikon Imaging Centres.
Ulrike Engel has come from the Harvard Medical School to manage the centre at the University of Heidelberg and is therefore already extremely familiar with the concept and productivity of Nikon Imaging Centres.
Representatives of Baden-Wurttemberg's provincial government participated in the grand opening of the Nikon Imaging Centre at University of Heidelberg, and Hidetoshi Mori, president of Nikon Instruments, and University president Professor Peter Hommelhoff paid tribute to the commitment of the collaboration.
Afterwards Brad Amos, from the MRC laboratory of molecular biology in Cambridge, gave a lecture on 'The Importance of Imaging in Life Science Discovery'.
He presented examples of the continual development in optical microscopy during the past 50 years and associated applications in the life sciences.
